BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown released his $482.5 Million budget proposal for the Queen City Wednesday Afternoon.

On Tuesday, he sat down with 2 On Your Side for a preview of what's to come.

Mayor Brown says the news is good for property tax payers.
The Mayor's budget does not raise residential property taxes or increase any fees. His proposed budget also reduces commercial taxes by 3.2%.

There are no layoffs in Mayor Brown's budget, and the budget does include money to add a new class of both police and firefighters. There's also money for upgraded equipment for police offices, including a million dollars for new vehicles and technology.

Another significant amount of money will be spent on continuing the demolition of vacant and unsalvageable housing stock.

Despite critics who might say this is an election year budget that holds the line on taxes and fees, the Mayor counters by saying his eight years of budgeting have done even more to spur economic growth.

"We have cut taxes so we can attract businesses," Mayor Brown said. "So those businesses can create jobs and we are seeing the benefits of that."

The budget also includes $171,000 for Buffalo Public Schools to hire new attendance teachers to address issues of absenteeism in the district.

The Mayor's budget now goes to the common council.
The council has 21 days to review it.